We do not yet know the full reasons for Sunday night’s riot. But our early reactions have shown us something of ourselves.

During and after the riot, many voices spoke online, with many views. Some worried about friends and family in the area. Others spoke out in support of our emergency responders and law enforcement.

As a doctor, I wondered about the man who died, trapped under the bus. Was he the breadwinner working to send money back? When was the last time he spoke to his family? He did not have a chance to say goodbye.

I was also troubled by the image of a burning ambulance. Front-line staff in many areas of work face abuse from time to time, especially when people are distressed and emotions are running high. Healthcare is no exception. But this was something completely different — rescuers coming under attack and on Singapore soil.

It was worrying to read some of the comments, which bordered on being racist. Some stereotyped entire communities. A few dragged religion into the mix. These are people who would pounce on an incident to fan the flames of xenophobia and racial hatred, provoking friction and tension between fellow Singaporeans.

We need to seek the better men and women within ourselves — better natures, such as the resolve and courage which kept ambulance crews, firefighters and police officers doing their duty in the face of life-threatening danger; their restraint in avoiding an unwarranted escalation of force, despite knowing that if things went badly, they might never see their families again.

The police were able to bring the situation under control within an hour, without firing any weapons or further loss of life.

CHOICE IN WHAT WE SAY

We live in an era when every person with a smartphone can send photos from the ground, where each Facebook and Twitter account is a miniature publishing press. This confers power, choice and responsibility upon every one of us.

Do we feed knee-jerk fear with baseless accusations and stoke anger with rumours? Or do we call for calm and due process, even as we seek facts?

Do we let racist and religiously offensive comments pass? Or do we share our concerns with the person who posted or shared them? When we keep quiet, we effectively assent to what has been said.

Do we misjudge an entire community by a single incident? Or do we recognise those in the same community who put themselves at risk to stop the violence?

What we say — and do not say — online and offline about this riot reflects who we are and what kind of society we want to build. Our choices shape the kind of Singapore we and our children will grow old in. We decide whether challenges will enlighten and bring us together, or if there will be market failure in the marketplace of ideas.

Last night’s events and Singaporeans’ responses show we have some way to go. But we must never give in to hate, anger and fear.

Showing the way, many Singaporeans have spoken out against the mob mentality, online and offline.

We have pledged ourselves as one united people — and through our words and actions, we can pledge ourselves anew each day. The future of Singapore depends on each and every one of us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tan Wu Meng is a medical doctor working in a public sector hospital.